PA- 42yo Douglas Dietz murdered, son being charged as adult on his 11th birthday - Duncannon, Perry County, 13 Jan 2026

[spookyprincess]

my guess is he waited until his parents were asleep especially since he wanted to search in the adjoining closet between his and his parent's rooms, which would've been noisier than if he were looking anywhere else in the house IMO

In my experience autistic kids don't really try to be quiet or stealthy.. they just search everything when they want to and have a meltdown until they find it. i can't imagine this child conjuring up this ahead of time. i'm also not sure how his behaviors are bc I'm not there..just speculating..

 

[spookyprincess]

The good news is that there's currently a bill in PA that's been created to end charging children as adults...

House Bill 1383 Information; 2025-2026 Regular Session - The Official Website of the Pennsylvania General Assembly

View the status of PA General Assembly bills including history, text, co-sponsorship memos, summaries, actions, fiscal notes, and statute references. Download legislation in HTML, PDF, or Word.

www.palegis.us

The sentencing for juveniles for first and second degree murder is 20-30 to life but it looks like considerations are made based on age and the like

Act of Oct. 25, 2012,P.L. 1655, No. 204 Cl. 18 - CRIMES CODE (18 PA.C.S.), JUDICIAL CODE (42 PA.C.S.) AND PRISONS AND PAROLE CODE (61 PA.C.S.) - OMNIBUS AMENDMENTS

I'm not sure how sentencing goes if there's any lesser charges like manslaughter.

so as of now the law still stands without {until} the bill is passed?

 

[spicyenigma]

so as of now the law still stands without {until} the bill is passed?

I believe so. This bill was referred to the House in May 2025, and there hasn't been any movement. But I'm sure they "may" consider this? I'm not sure.

 

[spookyprincess]

I believe so. This bill was referred to the House in May 2025, and there hasn't been any movement. But I'm sure they "may" consider this? I'm not sure.

hopefully. I hope he gets a good lawyer who actually advocates for him. I think his next court date is the 22nd.

 

[spookyprincess]

Did you guys see this #coldblood?? they really are trying to paint him as a cold blooded killer. Also i understand this is very tragic and she is going to have to deal with a lot now, but all these posts are only prayers for Jillian...no prayers for CD? He's a child in jail.

6 comments | PENNSYLVANIA 🚨🚨🚨11-year-old Clayton Dietz allegedly shot and killed his father Douglas Dietz on Tuesday, Jan. 13. Dietz's wife, Jillian, told police she believed her son was responsible for shooting her husband. She said she was awakene

PENNSYLVANIA 🚨🚨🚨11-year-old Clayton Dietz allegedly shot and killed his father Douglas Dietz on Tuesday, Jan. 13. Dietz's wife, Jillian, told police she believed her son was responsible for shooting...

www.facebook.com

 

[tlcya]

MOO a just turned 11 year old does not belong in an adult prison setting. Period. I am not even speaking to whether he should be charged and tried as an adult right now. I am speaking to him being held currently, as an accused, in an adult prison setting. MOO that is dangerous and a huge liability for the state.

 

[spookyprincess]

MOO a just turned 11 year old does not belong in an adult prison setting. Period. I am not even speaking to whether he should be charged and tried as an adult right now. I am speaking to him being held currently, as an accused, in an adult prison setting. MOO that is dangerous and a huge liability for the state.

so far Jillian has a gofundme page for her..but doesn't even attempt to defend her son on any level. If that were my kid i would be raising hell to get him out. he's an 11 year old autistic child..not some super-predator or whatever they call them in their law.

 

[spookyprincess]

MOO a just turned 11 year old does not belong in an adult prison setting. Period. I am not even speaking to whether he should be charged and tried as an adult right now. I am speaking to him being held currently, as an accused, in an adult prison setting. MOO that is dangerous and a huge liability for the state.

does my comment seem provoking? I posted it on her fundraiser... my intent wasn't to be provoking..

This Is Duncannon

Friends - So many of you have reached out asking how to support Jillian Dietz right now, and that says everything there is to know about Duncannon. A fundraiser has been created by close friends to...

www.facebook.com

Prayers for Jillian and her child Clayton.. What he did is not ok, but he is still an autistic child in jail probably scared to death. My prayers are with him.

 

[Ontario Mom]

I listened to this interview also, a few times. What is the deal with this guy? I read that he supports them?? he somehow knows this child so well but lives in mexico? He's in the family photo?

The article says him and Jillian have been close friends for 30 years and that they stay in touch via video calls 2 or 3 times a week.
I'm not sure how well you can get to know someone over video calls but that's what the article says.

 

[Cubby]

He knew right from wrong.

Being adopted at 3..... There's more to the story that meets the eye. Brain changes occur in children who experience severe trauma early in life. We don't know what kind of mental health issues this child may have been dx'd with.

What have I learned from this? Don't leave the key to the gun safe within reach of children. It kind of defeats the purpose. I'm sure this childs adoptive parents never considered that... Many of us wouldn't.

 

[Cubby]

Wonder how old those injuries were. Curious if the lip still bleeding or did the injuries appear to be from earlier in the evening.

Also this article says the child was angry he had been made to go to bed. Another article says he was was looking for his Nintendo Switch which had been taken from him earlier. I feel like there is more to come with this case and I am interested to hear it.

My thoughts are the eye and lip injuries may be a result of the recoil of the firearm.

 

[spookyprincess]

Being adopted at 3..... There's more to the story that meets the eye. Brain changes occur in children who experience severe trauma early in life. We don't know what kind of mental health issues this child may have been dx'd with.

What have I learned from this? Don't leave the key to the gun safe within reach of children. It kind of defeats the purpose. I'm sure this childs adoptive parents never considered that... Many of us wouldn't.

I have an autistic child (9) and a neurotypical child (10) and we don't even leave any kitchen knives within reach and we have no guns fr this reason. no gun..no gun accident.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

...

What have I learned from this? Don't leave the key to the gun safe within reach of children. It kind of defeats the purpose. I'm sure this childs adoptive parents never considered that... Many of us wouldn't.

That's the whole point of the gun safe, though. The very reason that you have it.

 

[spookyprincess]

They deleted my comment saying prayers for CD.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Reminds me a bit of the case we saw last year where a teen girl murdered her younger sister, and her parents just refused to see her afterwards or allow her back home. I'm not judging them in their time of pain, just noticing. It's interesting how some quickly reject the accused/guilty child and others go out of their way to excuse the accused/guilty child's actions.

This child, at age 11, is particularly young, though. And if he is neurodivergent, if anyone understands him, it should have been his parents. IMO.

 

[spookyprincess]

Reminds me a bit of the case we saw last year where a teen girl murdered her younger sister, and her parents just refused to see her afterwards or allow her back home. I'm not judging them in their time of pain, just noticing. It's interesting how some quickly reject the accused/guilty child and others go out of their way to excuse the accused/guilty child's actions.

This child, at age 11, is particularly young, though. And if he is neurodivergent, if anyone understands him, it should have been his parents. IMO.

exactly..I don't see her defending him at all..i would of said it was me before i let my autistic child or either of my kids go to jail especially for something this bad.

 

[kaen]

I work with disabled youth with a focus on older Austistic children with multiple additional diagnoses (ADHD, ED, ODD, conduct disorder, pyromania), currently. Behavioral issues that are rising is an immediate need for therapy, medication, program change and home interventions. For youth in this population with escalating (present according to the family friend's description) behaviors, I have witnessed and treated many young people with growing disturbances. At school, we try to document all escalating behaviors, if the student's are exceeding their previous Behavior Plan targets or have a host of new behaviors we attempt to reconvene CSE meetings for more supports. One of the first things we discuss with parents is access to items that can be used as weapons or are weapons. I was less cognizant about the discussion of weapons when I first started but the rise of video games, youtube streaming and violence riddled music has also created a rise in using violence against those my students love and peers they are in conflict with as the reactions are more normalized in the online forums/games/music.

I caution against one gun cabinet in favor of two --- one for the weapon, one for the ammunition with keys hidden and separated. I suggest that all knives, scissors or glass that can be broken into large pieces be locked away.

My guess is that this child's behavior has been even more concerning than the friend's interview is revealing. I ache for this family who I am sure were trying their best. I hope LE can help to salvage this boy as incarceration is the last place he should probably be. That said, a home setting is too dangerous at this point.

 

[kaen]

Reminds me a bit of the case we saw last year where a teen girl murdered her younger sister, and her parents just refused to see her afterwards or allow her back home. I'm not judging them in their time of pain, just noticing. It's interesting how some quickly reject the accused/guilty child and others go out of their way to excuse the accused/guilty child's actions.

This child, at age 11, is particularly young, though. And if he is neurodivergent, if anyone understands him, it should have been his parents. IMO.

I would never want to be in the situation where my child murdered someone. I think it is important to note that sometimes the amount of relief available to a family with a highly disturbed child is often inadequate. Families with children who are more and more disturbed are often isolated as their child's peers/peer families AND the siblings peer/peer families may not trust the household AND extended family do not trust. The humiliation of having a child who is so disturbed can be great--- real community/family reaction or fear of community/family reaction. If we link that to a child who is now larger and more intimidating, the community response is bigger. Families of other children with disabilities want to know that their child is protected in school. Staff in schools struggle to keep kids safe from a child who is attempting to harm others.

I think rejection comes at a great cost that none of us not in the situation knows. Working in a school, I have had students who harm others and I get racked with guilt trying to assess whether I could have or should have noticed something....even a tiny thing... to have averted the situation.

Taking care of a child with escalating behavior problems is exhausting. What does one do when their child has crossed the rubicon? The child is not safe. The family is not safe. It is a position that I thank my stars that I don't have to make. I agree with your observation and reservation of judgment. JMHO.

 

[LadyL]

OHH, I thought, from reading the posts upthread, that the wife adopted him, then got together with DD, who became stepfather. I didn't realise he was her bio son.

So the stepdad adopted him? There should have been a deep dive into his past if he was filing for adoption. Hard to believe he had prior record of DV and child abuse..

no I was asking you the question cause that seemed like what you were saying
as far as I know they both adopted him but
I had no idea he had a prior record

 

[DonAntonio]

CD commited a murder. JD cannot defend CD but from now on she can support him like she always did. CD doesn’t belong in an adult setting but in a correction centre. IMO give CD a sentence of 15 years till he is 26. Let him study in jail and first let him take full responsibility for his actions. Also keep record of his behavior in jail and keep monitoring him. Give CD the therapy he needs. Make a good clear plan for his future. If he behaves well reward him with little things. Let him interact with other children in jail but keep always an eye on his behavior.